Observation of antiphase states in a multimode laser

Abstract

We have observed antiphase dynamical states in an N-mode laser with an intracavity doubling crystal. We have experimentally observed such states for N=3, while numerical simulations indicate their persistance up to (at least) N=5. Analogous dynamical states have been predicted for Josephson-junction arrays; in both cases, the multiplicity of coexisting attractors can be traced to the global nature of the coupling between degrees of freedom.